roberts



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. R'. ROBERTS.

I Crossing Frog. No. 234,809. Patented Nov. 23,1880;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. R. ROBERTS.

Crossing Frog. No. 234,809. Pa tented Nov. 23, 1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcra ALFRED R. ROBERTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO EDWARD H. JOHNSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

CROSSING-FROG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,809, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed July 2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED R. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Crossing-Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to prevent the accidents which frequently occur where crossings are provided with ordinary 1o fiXed frogs, and this objectlattainin the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, represent two crossing-tracks with my improved system of safetyfrogs; Fig. 3, Sheet 2, an elevation of part of Fig. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale, and looking in the direction of the arrow; and Figs. 4 and 5, modifications of my invention.

In Figs. 1 and'2 there are two tracks crossing each other, A A and A A being the rails of one track, which I may call the main track, and B B and B B the rails of the other or crossing track.

Four frogs, D D and G G, are arranged in 2 respect to. the several rails in the manner shown, each frog consisting, in the present instance, of a straight rail, 1), and a wing-rail, d, partly straight and partly curved, the two rails merging into a point. Each frog is pivoted at 00 to a plate on the track, and adjoining each frog is a permanent guard-rail, F. The two frogs D D are connected together by a lever, H, which is pivoted in the center to a suitable plate on the track, and an edge vie\v of which is shown in Fig. 3, Sheet 2, a similar pivoted lever, H, serving to connect the two frogs G G together.

Supposing the several frogs to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and atrain to be trav- 0 ersing the rails B B of the crossing-track in the direction of the arrows2, the front wheels of the locomotive on one side of the same must open the frog D, while the wheels on the opposite side of the locomotive will, owing to 4 5 the gage of the wheels and to the guard-rail adjoining the frog Gr, close the latter, and, owing to the connecting-levers above described, the closing of the frog D and opening of the frog G must be simultaneous with the above-de- 0 scribed movements of the other frogs, so that (No model.)

as the wheels of the locomotive traversing in the direction of the arrows 2 are passing and moving the frogs D and G they must at the same sime set the frogs D andG to the proper position, Fig. 2, for the locomotive to pursue its course along the crossing-track. If the train be traversing the main track in the direction of the arrows 3, Fig. 2, while the frogs are in the position shown in that figure, there will be the same proper movement and setting of the frogs to permit the train to pursue its course with safety, and the same result will take place no matter which direction the train may be taking or which track it may be traversing, the wheels of the locomotive in passing one pair of frogs invariably adjusting the other pair, if adjustment be required, before they are reached by the wheels.

The movable frogs possess this advantage over fixed frogs, that the former render the track nearly continuous, whereas the use of fixed frogs requires gaps, which interrupt the continuity of the treads, these gaps frequently resulting in the misdirection of thelocomotive or cars, or in the directing of part of a train along one track and another part on the other track, and consequently causing the breaking up of the train. N 0 such accidents as these can occur when the crossing-tracks are combined with the system of connected frogs described above.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 there is one central lever, H where the two tracks cross each other, one arm of this lever being connected to the frogs D and G by the connecting-bar W, and the other arm of the lever being connected by a similar rod to the two frogs D and G, and the frogs of each pair may be further coupled together by a link, 1.

ln carrying out my invention itis not necessary that levers should in all cases be used to connect the frogs, as cranked rods properly arranged may be substituted for the levers.

Although I prefer to use, in carrying outmy invention, four pivoted frogsthat is to say, one frog for each main rail and one for each crossing-rail, as shown and describedl have found that many of the disadvantages of the old form of fixed crossing-frogs may be obviated by the use of but two movable frogs at one side of the track in connection with afixed frog at the other side of the track, as shownin Fig. 5, the points of the movable frogs projectin g so far beyond the points of the fixed frog as to insure the proper lateral movement of the wheels beforethey reach thepoints of the fixed frog.

1 do not desire to claim, broadly pivoted frog-rails connected together so that the operation of one shall be simultaneous with theoperation of the other, nor do I claim pivoted frog-rails in connection with shifting devices adapted to be actuated at a point remote from the said frog-rails; but

' I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a main rail and a crossing-rail, two pivoted frog-rails, G G, connected so as to move simultaneously, and wing or guard rails d, arranged alongside of the pivoted frog-rails, as described, whereby the wheels of a locomotive or car, in passing over thefrog, are caused to automatically adjust the said frog-rails, as set forth.

2. The combination of crossing-tracks and four pivoted frog-rails D D G G, connected together so as to move simultaneously with wing or guard rails d, arranged alongside of the pivoted frog-rails, as described, whereby the wheels of a locomotive or car, in passing over the frog, are caused to automatically adjust both sets of pivoted frog-rails, as set forth.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED R. ROBERTS.

Witnesses JAMES F. ToBIN, HARRY SMITH. 

